This thesis deals with the ethics approaches in advertising in different countries. First of all I describe the culture influence to the ethical values in the countries which need to be respected in the advertising appeal selection especially in the international advertising. In order to identify the concrete ethical values and attitudes in particular countries, the legal regulations and self-regulatiuons rules in advertising were analyzed. Furthermore, I choosed the unethical ads in particular countries and explained that approach through the theory of Hofstede's Cultural Dimension Model. The conclusions of such ethical analysis could be used in the international advertising. For this cross-country ethical comparison was chosen Czech Republic, China, India and Great Britain.

O ensino de biologia requer ferramentas adequadas para a aprendizagem dos alunos. Argumenta-se que os conflitos diários vivenciados na sala de aula podem ser minimizados ou até mesmo resolvidos através do envolvimento de técnicas de aprendizagem significativas. Para apoiar a aprendizagem significativa surge o mapa conceitual (MC) desenvolvido por Joseph Novak como uma ferramenta para organizar e representar o conhecimento. Há também o círculo hermenêutico-dialético (CHD) que é um método interativo e dinâmico realizado em grupo que permite captar a realidade em estudo, através de uma análise que se configura em um consenso entre os grupos pesquisados. O ambiente cultural, em conjunto com a metodologia de ensino escolhida, pode influenciar a forma como os alunos aprendem. Hofstede apresentou um método de identificação de dimensões culturais: índice de distância hierárquica (PDI), individualismo versus coletivismo (IDV), masculinidade versus feminilidade (MAS), índice de aversão à incerteza (UAI) e orientação de longo prazo versus orientação normativa de curto prazo (LTO). Neste trabalho, estudou-se a construção de mapas conceituais (CM) em associação com uma sequencia didática interativa (SDI) envolvendo a aplicação do círculo hermenêutico-dialético (CHD). Além disso, as dimensões culturais de Hofstede foram verificadas para os estudantes. Os resultados mostraram que as características das dimensões culturais de Hofstede, como o baixo índice de distância hierárquica (-11 pontos) associado a um baixo índice de individualismo (5 pontos) indicaram que os estudantes foram participativos e gostaram de realizar atividades em conjunto. Além disso, os alunos apresentaram índices moderadamente elevados de masculinidade (68 pontos) e orientação de longo prazo (51 pontos), contribuindo para um grupo competitivo e comprometido. Foi proporcionado um ambiente estruturado e motivador em função do elevado nível de incerteza (88 pontos) dos estudantes. Os alunos ensinados usando o método de mapeamento conceitual associado ao círculo hermenêutico-dialético (MC-CHD) obtiveram melhores resultados do que quando construíram os mapas conceituais individualmente. A construção de mapas conceituais associada ao CHD foi estruturalmente mais complexa do que os mapas construídos individualmente. A aplicação do CHD devido à sua própria funcionalidade proporcionou um diálogo motivacional/interativo entre os alunos e professor favorecendo a aprendizagem significativa usando os mapas conceituais. De acordo com a escala de Hake esta proposta mostrou um ganho de aprendizagem a um nível médio. Este trabalho gerou um material complementar ao manual do professor da rede pública do Estado de São Paulo enriquecido com a construção de mapas conceituais e discussões no CHD. Além disso, usando as dimensões culturais de Hofestede. Esta proposta traz uma perspectiva inovadora para o uso do CHD e poderá contribuir para futuros estudos na área de ensino e aprendizagem. / Teaching biology requires appropriate tools for student learning. It is argued that everyday conflicts experienced in the classroom can be minimized or even solved through the involvement of meaningful learning techniques. To support meaningful learning emerges the conceptual map (CM) developed by Joseph Novak as a tool to organize and represent knowledge. There is also the hermeneutic-dialectic circle (HDC) that is an interactive and dynamic method carried out in a group that allows capturing the reality under study, through an analysis that is configured in a consensus among the groups surveyed. The cultural environment, together with the chosen teaching methodology, can influence the way students learn. Hofstede presented a method to identify cultural dimensions as power distance index- PDI, individualism versus collectivism-IDV, masculinity versus femininity-MAS, uncertainty avoidance index-UAI and long term orientation versus short term normative orientation-LTO. In this work, the construction of conceptual maps (CM) in association with an interactive didactic sequence (IDS) involving the application of the hermeneutic-dialectic circle (HDC) was studied. In addition, the Hofstede cultural dimensions were verified for the students. The results showed that the characteristics of the cultural dimensions of Hofstede, such as the low hierarchical distance index (-11 points) associated with a low individualism index (5 points) indicated that the students was participative and enjoyed doing activities together. In addition, students had moderately high rates of masculinity (68 points) and long-term orientation (51 points), contributing to a competitive and compromised group. A structured and motivating environment was provided due to the students\' high level of uncertainty (88 points). Students taught using the conceptual mapping method associated with the hermeneutic-dialectical circle (CM-HDC) obtained better results than when constructing the conceptual mapping individually. The construction of conceptual maps associated with the HDC was structurally more complex than the maps constructed individually. The application of HDC due to its own functionality provided a motivational/interactive dialogue between students and teacher favoring meaningful learning by using concept maps. According to the Hake scale, this proposal showed a learning gain at an average level. This work generated a complementary material to the teacher\'s manual of the public network of the State of São Paulo enriched with the construction of conceptual maps and discussions in HDC. In addition, the Hofstede cultural dimensions were used. This proposal brings an innovative perspective to the use of CHD and could contribute to future studies in the area of teaching and learning.

O propósito deste trabalho é identificar, através da investigação de estudo de caso, como as características culturais melhor se relacionam a cada um dos princípios do TQM. Nas últimas décadas, a gestão da qualidade passou por uma mudança singular. Pela primeira vez, a diretoria executiva das empresas começou a demonstrar interesse por esta matéria. Sob o título de Total Quality Management (TQM), a gestão da qualidade passou a apresentar importância estratégica para as organizações. Como consequência, princípios gerenciais integraram a gestão da qualidade aumentando a relevância da Cultura Organizacional. Entretanto, apesar do reconhecimento acerca da importância do papel da Cultura Organizacional, faltam estudos que examinem profundamente os relacionamentos existentes entre Cultura Organizacional e gestão da qualidade. A partir de uma revisão sistemática sobre a interface entre gestão da qualidade e Cultura Organizacional foram identificadas como as abordagens mais utilizadas o Competing Values Framework (CVF) e as Dimensões Culturais de Hofstede. Desse modo, foi estabelecido o estudo de caso como procedimento técnico de abordagem qualitativa, a fim de buscar por resultados aprofundados. Como resultado foram constatadas divergências a partir comparações das Dimensões Culturais entre os ambientes escritório/fábrica e os quatro níveis hierárquicos. Evidenciando a existência de subculturas na empresa. Por fim, apresentou-se os relacionamentos observados entre cada um dos sete princípios do TQM e as Dimensões Culturais. Este trabalho contribui para propor novas perspectivas e insights a fim de elucidar as relações entre cultura e gestão da qualidade. / The purpose of this study is to indentify, through case study research, how cultural characteristics relate to each of TQM elements. In the last decades quality management went through a singular change, for the first time the executive board began to demonstrate concern about this quality. Under the title of Total Quality Management (TQM) the quality management started to present strategic importance for organizations. As a consequence, managerial elements became part of quality management, increasing the organizational culture relevance. Nevertheless, despite the knowledge about the importance of organizational culture role, there are few studies that examine deeply the links between organizational culture and quality management. From a systematic review on the interface between quality management and organizational culture we identified that Competing Values Framework (CVF) and Hofstede\'s cultural dimensions are the most common methods. Thereby, the case study was established as a technical procedure of qualitative approach, in order to search deeper results. As a result differences were found on Cultural Dimensions comparisons between office/factory environments and four hierarchical levels. Evidencing the subcultures existence at the company. Finally, the relationships observed between each of the seven TQM principles and the Cultural Dimensions were presented. This research contributes to propose new perspectives and insights in order to elucidate the relationship between culture and quality management.

Using 2 of Hofstede's cultural dimensions (power distance and uncertainty avoidance) associated by the research of Albers-Millers and Gelb with some of Pollay's value appeals used in advertising, this study successfully replicated 3 of 8 dependant relationships when analyzing the content of print magazines in U.S. and France. Going beyond the scope of a highly educated audience in which Hofstede's cultural dimensions were developed and retested, we indirectly found that these 2 dimensions of culture are partially salient in non-business, less elitist environments in the form of value appeals such as "dear", "untamed", "magic", and "youth" reinforcing the idea that cultural differences can sometimes be empirically tested by contrasting these appeals.

This dissertation consists of two self-contained chapters that empirically examine bidder firm returns of U.S. companies in cross-border mergers and acquisitions. In chapter one I examine how cultural distance between bidder and target country impacts internalization benefits. The results suggest that shareholders are initially concerned about the acquisition in culturally distant countries, which outweighs any potential benefits from internalization. However, in the long-run we observe a significant reversal of these findings. In the second and third year following the announcement, greater cultural distance positively impacts the bidder firm's operating performance and the bidder experiences significant internalization benefits from technological know-how when cultural distance is great. Long-run calendar-time returns further support this finding. These results add to the existing literature by highlighting the importance of cultural distance when examining internalization benefits. In chapter two I attempt to explain abnormal bidder firms' returns in cross-border mergers and acquisitions by comparing the first-mover hypothesis to the late-mover hypothesis. I also study the reactions of rival firms to bidder firm announcements as a further test of the first-mover hypothesis. The findings suggest that cross-border acquisitions are generally value-destroying for strategic pioneers unless cultural distance between the U.S. and the target country is great. Further, I find positive announcement effects for followers as long as cultural distance is small.

Entrepreneurship research is becoming more critical to policymakers and scholars around the world. However, few scholars have explored the effect of national culture or institutions on the entrepreneurial activity using cross-national data. Furthermore, most previous scholars have been limited to formal institutions as a theoretical structure to explore the entrepreneurial activity across countries. It is crucial to include formal, informal institutions and culture to better understand about how much or why entrepreneurial activity differs across countries. To fill this gap, this study investigates how national culture and institutions impact the level of entrepreneurial activity across 30 countries using cross-national dataset from the World Bank Dataset, the GEM report, and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions during the 5-year period from 2009 to 2013. Moreover, this study used two distinct measures of the level of entrepreneurial activity as dependent variables (i.e., the rate of new start-up companies and Total Entrepreneurial Activity). The results showed that individualism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, and long-term orientation are essential for explaining the level of entrepreneurial activity across countries. However, the results indicated that only one of the regulative dimensions (i.e., the number of start-up procedures) was significantly related to the level of entrepreneurial activity. Therefore, the finding of this study concludes that national culture may play more important roles than institutions regarding the level of entrepreneurial activity across countries.

No description available.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the implications and challenges of intercultural communication. An in-depth study was performed of the perspectives from people who work within an international organization. How they experience cultural differences and how they handle them, in particular when it comes to communication. Also, their perceptions of communicative competence were explored. The study was carried out at Svalorna India Bangladesh, at the Swedish office in Lund. Svalorna’s staff was interviewed on their experiences of intercultural communication. Both employees at the Swedish office and employees on location in India and Bangladesh were interviewed. The method used in the study was qualitative interviews where the interviewees could expand their answers fully as the interview developed. The main theory used was Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, presented in the thesis and considered in the study. It was concluded that being aware of cultural differences and having knowledge of other cultures but also your own is important for understanding the so-called non-verbal communication in an intercultural situation. There are also differences in to what extent a certain culture uses non-verbal communication. Both India and Bangladesh, according to the interviewees, are high context cultures whereas Sweden has a low context culture. All the interviewees had similar experiences when it comes to intercultural communication. A cultural difference in the perception of time is an example of when verbal communication can be inadequate, if one is not aware of cultural differences. Both India and Bangladesh use polychronic time whereas in Sweden monochromic time is used. This is indeed confirmed by all interviewees. Many of Hofstede’s cultural dimension theories are found to be coherent with the results of this study, for example the Individualism.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how and to what degree Swedish multinational companies (MNCs) adapt to local conditions when they establish subsidiaries in China, and if cultural differences play an important role in their operations. Background: The major challenge for MNCs establishing abroad is the configuration and integration of their country subsidiaries (Galbraith, 2000). Therefore, it is vital to understand how activities within an organization, such as structures, processes, reward systems, and people practices, should be designed in order for the company to be as efficient as possible (Weiss, 2007; Kesler & Kates, 2011). Swedish direct investments in China have increased significantly in the late 2000s, especially in the eastern regions, where a majority of about 650 Swedish companies in China are located (Swedish Trade Council, 2012a). Establishing across borders is a step towards future growth, but it is important to note that a cross-border expansion comes with many challenges (Galbraith, 2000). Method: This study uses a qualitative research method by investigating the experiences and practices of two Swedish multinational companies with operations in Shanghai, China. Information has been collected from eight respondents in the form of interviews and open-ended questionnaires. Conclusion: Swedish MNCs standardize their organization to a large extent when they establish subsidiaries in China, and culture has a slight influence on the practices of Swedish MNCs but does not play a major role for the business as a whole.

In times of rapid economic development and internationalization of business, effective cross-cultural communication among managers remains a challenge. This thesis aims to research and analyze cross-cultural communication in business context based on qualitative case study of a small Swedish company and its international business partners. Previous research has focused on differences and similarities in people’s behaviour and ways of communication based on their cultural background. Through in-depth analysis and application of existing theories to the chosen case study company, the findings of this research demonstrated that although national culture does have an undeniable influence on people’s behaviour and their communication style, implications in communication between business partners of different cultural backgrounds often connected to an individual approach to cross-cultural communication. A great emphasis was placed on the language being one of the biggest communication challenges facing SMEs in international arena. Finally, misunderstandings occurring due to communication through technological devices were discussed.